Adjustable clamping and spreading fixture



Sept, 18, 1951 B, c. HAMlLToN ADJUSTABLE CLAMPING AND SPREADING FIXTURE Filed April 17, 1948 lr. lin. .Illdlllltlllllllllll Patented Sept. 18, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE CLAMPING AND sPREADING FIXTURE Burton C. Hamilton, Brookline, Mass.

Application April 17, 1948, Serial No. 21,628

1 Clar/im. (Cl. 14A-299) My invention relates generally to clamps, and more particularly to an improved clamping device constructed and arranged with universal adjustabilty and in which objects may be retained securely even though disposed in diierent planes.

Heretofore, various types of clamps have been devised which embodycertain features of combination clamping, but so far as I am aware none of these prior units have combined universal adjustability in its component parts.

The main object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a clamping unit that is much more comprehensive in scope and utility than such prior devices and comprises a plurality of clamping members that are universally adjustable, interchangeable, and capable of use for clamping objects of various shapes and contours.

A further prime object of my invention resides in the provision of adjustable means whereby the lateral and horizontal members sustaining and supporting the clamps may be easily extended or contracted to compensate for the diierences in size and shape of the respective objects to be clamped.

Another important object of my invention pertains to the novel and unique details of construction whereby my clamp may be readily adjusted and adapted for use as a jacking device.

Further objects of my invention involve the extreme simplicity of my clamp construction, the ease with which it may be operated, and its inexpensive cost of manufacture.

Further objects, advantages, and details of construction will be hereinafter more fully pointed out in the accompanying description and defined in the appended claim.

Referring now to the drawings illustrating referred embodiments of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my novel clamp;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig, 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a modied form of my clamp having a square-shaped barrel member, and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, II] and II designate a pair of socket members duly connected by an adjustable cross-construction comprising a sleeve element I2 welded or otherwise strongly secured in a suitable recess I4 cut centrally of the socket II and extending therethru, and a cooperating bar I5 similarly secured in a slot I6 formed centrally in the socket Ill but cut thru one surface only thereof.

Said bar I5 is adapted to slide freely in the sleeve I2, and the end thereof may extend thru the recess I4 and beyond the socket II.-

To secure and lock the bar I5 with the sleeve I2 at any desired point, thus controlling the distance between the sockets I0 and II, I prefer to weld or otherwise attach on the top surface of the sleeve I2 a lug I'I suitably threaded to receive the correspondingly threaded shank of a wing nut screw I8, the base of which screw is appropriately shaped to impinge upon the sawtoothed edge I9 of said bar I5 in locking association therewith.

Of course, if desired, and for the purpose of eifecting more comprehensive transverse adjustment, I may employ a cross-construction having an open sleeve member and a cooperating bar, the two interlocked by an encircling strap member slidably mounted thereabout, and carrying a screw member the shank of which is adapted to t thru the open top of the sleeve and to impinge upon the suitably notched top edge of the bar. Duly formed to t slidingly in each end of both socket members I0 and Il are the four stem portions 20-20 having identical transverse barrel members 22-22, which barrels are suitably threaded and individually adapted to carry a correspondingly threaded clamping screw. Each of these clamping screws may be of identical length, such as shown by the screws 24-24, or they may be of varying lengths as illustrated by the screws 25 and 26, each of said four screws being provided at one end with a thumb nut 21, and at the opposite end with a pivoted contact piece 28.

To insure simple and expedient locking adjustment between each stem 2l! and the sockets Ill and II, I provide a plurality of set screws SII-30, each screw adapted to engage a correspondingly tapped hole drilled in each socket I5- and Il and relatively positioned to coact with each respective stem 2U.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I illustrate a modification of my invention, wherein I present a square-shaped socket member 4EI having strongly secured therein one end ofA a cross-bar 4I. Slidingly tted into each end of said socket 4D is a pair of similarly square-shaped stems 42 and 43, respectively, formed with threaded barrel portions 44 and 3 constructed and arranged so that the clamping members may be readily adjusted in any direction, in pairs or individually, so that objects of varying sizes, shapes, and contours may be effectively and securely clamped and held in desired position.

Also my adjustable clamping and spreading fixture can be employed as a lifting jack by positioning the contact parts 2B ofthe clamping members to rest on the floor, workbench, table, or other support, and then turning the thumb nuts.

Of course it will be appreciated that my clamp may be made in various sizes as the occasion may demand, being applicable as an accessory to any machinists kit or as a heavy-duty clamping or jacking unit when large and bulky objects are involved. And it will be further understood that.,

each component part, all parts together, or any individual member of myy unit may be lengthened 4 secured to the outer end thereof a transverse socket member holding a rotating and sliding stem therein with set screws to fix each of said stems in desired relation in their respective sockets, the outer end of each of said stems being formed with a transverse internally threaded sleeve carrying a correspondingly threaded clamping screw, and each of said sleeves extending onrboth sides of saidsocket members.

BURTON C. HAMILTON.

REFERENCES CITED The follovv''ng references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 420,216 Tanner Jan, 28, 1890 442,733 Shampel Dec. 16, 1890 1,084,130 Cargin Jan. 13, 1914 1,175,811 Ray Mar. 14, 1916 1,272,259 Herold July 9, 1913 1,583,611 Seely May 4, 1926 2,114,227 Kriss Apr. 12, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 136,209 Germany Nov. 17, 1902 

